San Francisco to prioritize relocation over shelter for homeless people

Mayor London Breed issued an executive order Thursday requiring city workers to offer unhoused people bus tickets and relocation assistance before providing any other service, including housing and shelter.

Why it matters: It comes as the city ramps up enforcement of homeless encampment sweeps despite a dwindling number of available shelter beds.

Catch up quick: San Francisco has taken steps to crack down on encampments since the Supreme Court in June effectively gave cities the authority to enact restrictive laws targeting outdoor camping.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly directed state agencies to clear homeless camps last month.

Driving the news: The executive order , issued Thursday, prioritizes travel support and flexible financial assistance for housing in a bid to reconnect unhoused people with a stabilized network of family and friends.

• It requires first responders, including police officers and paramedics, to carry handouts with information on relocation services as well as a contact number.
• The directive builds on existing programs that offer return travel expenses, such as Journey Home as well as Problem Solving Relocation Assistance.
• "These have proven to be effective in delivering necessary resources and support services for individuals to return to the location of their choice," the order states.

Between the lines: The mayor's office, which has confirmed the possibility of enhanced penalties and arrests for those who resist, says that focusing on relocation will help address the increased number of unhoused people who come to San Francisco from somewhere else.

By the numbers: Almost 3,300 of the 3,603 beds and units in San Francisco's homelessness response system are currently occupied, according to the city's dashboard .

• That amounts to a 94% occupancy rate as of Thursday, in line with the city's policy of keeping shelters around 95% capacity in case of emergency admissions.

State of play: The city's most recent biennial homeless count , released in May, found that 40% of surveyed individuals said they either came to San Francisco from another county or out of state — up from 28% in 2019.

• 37% of survey participants who were previously housed said they had lived in San Francisco for less than a year when they became unhoused, more than double 2019's 15%.
• Meanwhile, the share of people who had lived in San Francisco for over 10 years before experiencing homelessness decreased from 43% in 2019 to 14% in 2024.

The intrigue: A 2016 voter proposition requires the city to give 24-hour notice and offer available shelter before clearing a tent.

• It's something homeless advocates said they would closely monitor amid any changes from the Supreme Court ruling.

Some unhoused people have also said they would likely return to the camping location even if it's targeted for a sweep.